Gray, Y H M2015-12-130168-9525http://hdl.handle.net/1885/89003Transposable elements (TEs) promote various chromosomal rearrangements more efficiently, and often more specifically, than other cellular processes1-3. One explanation of such events is homologous recombination between multiple copies of a TE present in a genome. Although this does occur, strong evidence from a number of TE systems in bacteria, plants and animals suggests that another mechanism - alternative transposition - induces a large proportion of TE-associated chromosomal rearrangements. This paper reviews evidence for alternative transposition from a number of unrelated but structurally similar TEs. The similarities between alternative transposition and V(D)J recombination are also discussed, as is the use of alternative transposition as a genetic tool.Keywords: animal; bacterium; chromosome rearrangement; chromosome replication; genetic recombination; genome; nonhuman; plant; priority journal; review; technique; transposon; Animal; Chromosomes; Comparative Study; DNA Nucleotidyltransferases; DNA Transposable Ele200010.1016/S0168-9525(00)02104-12015-12-12